The Chronicle of Philanthropy (March 3, 2005) reported that the IRS is reassuring private foundations that they are permitted to make grants to charitable organizations that lobby under the federal tax code.  “Federal law prohibits private foundations from lobbying (except on issues that affect their own existence). But the law allows them to make grants to nonprofit groups that lobby if foundations do not earmark the grants for lobbying and if other conditions are met.”  Read a copy of the letter from the IRS to Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest here.